Controlled atmosphere box for memorabilia

ABSTRACT

An atmosphere-controlled system and box for prolonged storage and display of various items, such as memorabilia. Specifically, the oxygen levels and moisture/humidity may be controlled within the box disclosed herein. This helps limit/prevent deterioration and harm to any items that are stored within the box.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 63/287,300, filed Dec. 8, 2021, entitled “ControlledAtmosphere Box for Memorabilia”, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to a controlled atmosphere system fordisplaying memorabilia. More particularly, the disclosure relates to acontrolled atmosphere system including a box for storing and displayingmemorabilia, such as shoes.

BACKGROUND

Display cases/boxes are configured to various types of items for avariety of purposes. For example, sports fans often put sportingequipment and/or apparel associated with their favorite teams in displaycases/boxes. Examples of the types of sports memorabilia that are oftenfound in display cases/boxes include balls, bats, shoes, pucks, jerseys,photographs, ticket stubs, programs, and any other items that have aconnection to a sports team, sporting event, or athlete. Other types ofitems include pictures, cards, writings, or other types of documents fora wide variety of purposes.

Since the types of memorabilia contained within display cases/boxes mayvary widely, corresponding display cases/boxes are designed to takevarious forms, shapes, and sizes to fit particular types of memorabiliaitems. Some display cases are designed to be mounted on walls, whileother display cases may simply rest on a flat surface, such as a desk orbookcase. However, the current options for display cases/boxes forholding various types of memorabilia are limited.

Most collectors of shoes (e.g. basketball shoes) are not able tovisually display their collections without taking the shoes out of theirboxes. Each time shoes are removed from their boxes, the shoes riskbeing damaged or deteriorated, which could greatly decrease their value.Most existing display cases/boxes are not the correct size or shape fordisplaying shoes. Shoes that are placed in existing display cases/boxestypically deteriorate and change in color (e.g. from white to yellow)due to the exposure to oxygen and humidity. Consequently, there is aneed for atmosphere-controlled boxes for prolonged storage and displayof various items, such as memorabilia.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An atmosphere-controlled system and box are provided for prolongedstorage and display of various items, such as memorabilia. Specifically,the oxygen levels and moisture/humidity may be controlled within the boxdisclosed herein. This helps limit/prevent deterioration and harm to anyitems that are stored within the box. As a result, the integrity andvalue of the items are preserved/increased.

In one embodiment, the atmosphere-controlled system for storing anddisplaying an item includes a box having a housing defining an opening;a lid removably attached over the opening on the box; a vacuum pump influid communication with the interior of the opening of the box by wayof a vacuum valve, wherein the vacuum pump is configured to removeoxygen from the interior of the opening in the box.

In some embodiments, the lid includes one or more mechanical seals forcreating a tighter seal of the lid over the opening of the box.

In some embodiments, the vacuum pump removes oxygen from the interior ofthe box through the attachment of a wall fitting in an aperture on oneor more sides of the box.

In one embodiment, the system may also include one or more gauges, suchas a moisture/humidity meter and/or vacuum meter to help determinemoisture/humidity levels and pressure levels, respectively.

The box may further include a compartment for storing desiccant, such assilica gel packets, therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of theinvention and therefore do not limit its scope because the inventiveconcepts lend themselves to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary controlled-atmospheresystem including a box according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, wherein the box does not include an item therein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the systemillustrated in FIG. 1 , wherein the box includes shoes therein as anitem of memorabilia.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the box illustrated in FIG. 1and FIG. 2 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the present disclosure may assume variousalternative orientations and step sequences, except where expresslyspecified to the contrary. It is also understood that the specificdevices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, anddescribed in the specification are simply exemplary embodiments of theinventive concepts disclosed and defined herein. Hence, specificdimensions, directions or other physical characteristics relating to thevarious embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting,unless expressly stated otherwise.

Directional terms, such as “top”. “bottom”, “front”. “back”, “inwards”“upwards”, “downwards”, “perpendicular”, “parallel” and “laterally” areused in following detailed description for the purpose of providingrelative reference only, and are not intended to suggest any limitationson how any article is to be positioned during use, or to be mounted inan assembly or relative to an environment.

REPRESENTATIVE COMPONENT LIST

The following component list is provided as a convenience to the reader.The disclosed technology is not limited to only these representativecomponents that are recited below for purposes of example andconvenience for the reader.

-   -   10 system    -   12 item (e.g. shoe)    -   14 housing    -   16 first side wall    -   18 second side wall    -   26 hollow opening    -   28 removable lid    -   30 mechanical seal    -   34 wall fitting    -   36 vacuum pump    -   38 vacuum valve    -   40 first gauge (e.g. moisture/humidity meter)    -   42 second gauge (e.g. vacuum meter)    -   44 stand    -   46 compartment    -   50 box

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary controlled-atmospheresystem 10 including a box 50 according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The box 50 is configured for prolonged storage of an item12, such as a shoe 12, as shown in FIG. 2 . One of ordinary skill in theart would understand that other types of items may be stored in otherembodiments of the box 50 disclosed in this embodiment and in otherboxes and/or cases herein. Non-limiting examples of other items 12 thatmay be used herein include balls, bats, shoes, helmets, pucks, jerseys,trophies, photographs, ticket stubs, programs, and any other items thathave a connection to a sports team, sporting event, or athlete,pictures, cards, writings, and other types of documents or personalitems.

The box 50 is adapted for being mounted on a wall or for resting againsta flat vertical surface. In an embodiment, a bracket may be used tomount the box 50 to a wall.

The box 50 disclosed herein may have various shapes, sizes, and/orconfigurations depending on the item to be stored therein. For example,the box 50 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is shaped and configured to holddifferent types and sizes of shoes. As a result, the box 50 may resemblea shoebox in some embodiments.

In one embodiment, the box 50 includes at least a partially transparenthousing 14 configured to store and display an item 12. The dimensions ofthe housing 14 vary depending on the type of item to be stored therein.For example, the housing 14 of the box 50 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3includes a length of about 15 inches, a width of about 7.5 inches, and adepth of about 10 inches. One of ordinary skill in the art wouldunderstand that the dimensions of the box 50 may vary in otherembodiments. The housing 14 may be made from a variety of materialscapable of being at least partially transparent, such as clear acrylicor plastic, which allows for the item 12 to be displayed.

As best seen in FIGS. 1-3 , the housing 14 is substantially rectangularhaving a first side wall 16, a second side wall 18, a front wall 20, arear wall 22, and a bottom 24 defining a hollow opening 26 in the box50. In other embodiments, the housing 14 may have other shapes, such asa square, circle, polygon, and the like. In an embodiment, the firstside wall 16, the second side wall 18, the front wall 20, and the rearwall are transparent. In other embodiments, one or more parts of thehousing 14 may be transparent.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the system 10 also includes a removablelid 28 that covers the opening 26 of the box 50. The lid 28 may be madefrom any suitable material, such as clear acrylic or plastic. Once anitem 12, such as a shoe is inserted into the opening 26 of the box 50,the lid 28 is used to seal the opening 26. In some embodiments, the lid28 also includes one or more mechanical seals 30, such as a gasket,O-ring, plug, piece of rubber, or the like to create a tighter seal ofthe item 12 in the box 50. As best seen in FIG. 1 and as a non-limitingexample, one or more seals 30 are attached to the inside of the lid 28for creating a tighter seal of the opening 28 and preventing outsideairflow into the opening 28. In another embodiment, one or more seals 30are positioned on the housing 14 and/or the lid 28.

As best seen in FIG. 1 , and as a non-limiting example, the box 50includes an aperture located on a lower corner of the first side wall16. The aperture is configured to selectively receive a wall fitting 34.The wall fitting 34 fits into the aperture such that no air enters theinside of the opening 26. In other embodiments, the aperture may belocated in other positions on the first side wall 16 or on otherportions of the housing 14, such as the second side wall 18 or the frontwall 20.

As best seen in FIG. 1 , and as a non-limiting example, the wall fitting34 is adapted for coupling with a vacuum pump 36 so that the vacuum pump36 is in fluid communication with the interior of the opening 26 by wayof a vacuum valve 38. The vacuum pump 36 and the vacuum valve 38 areconfigured to evacuate normal, oxygen-rich air from the interior of theopening 26 in the box 50. As a result, the change in pressure causes apartial vacuum within the box 50. This results in a better seal of theitem 12 within the opening 26 of the box 50. Vacuum pump 36 is situatedin-line with vacuum valve 38, wall fitting 34 and vacuum meter 42 in theembodiment of FIG. 1 . In actual practice, vacuum pump 36 may besituated closer to wall fitting 34 than illustrated.

The vacuum pump 36 may be manually operated by an individual by hand orfoot or may be controlled automatically by a computer or machine. Thevacuum valve 38 may be actuated manually, pneumatically, electrically,or electromagnetically.

The removal of oxygen gas from the interior of the opening 26 of the box50 strengthens the seal when the lid 28 covers the item 12 in the box50. The removal of oxygen also reduces the moisture/humidity inside thebox 50. As a result, the item 12 (e.g. shoe) can be protected fromdeterioration and avoid its value from being diminished.

In an embodiment, a first gauge 40, such as a moisture/humidity meter 40may be positioned within the interior of the opening 26 of the box 50.Thus, an operator of the system 10 may select a desired moisture contentrange for controlling humidity within the box 50 as desired depending onthe particular item 12 being stored. The first gauge 40 may be inelectrical communication with the vacuum pump 36.

As best seen in FIG. 1 and as a non-limiting example, the system 10 alsoincludes a second gauge 42, such as a vacuum meter 42, positioned on aportion of the vacuum pump 36. In an embodiment, the second gauge 42 ispositioned between the vacuum valve 38 and the wall fitting 34. In otherembodiments, the second gauge 42 is positioned in other locations on thevacuum pump 36. The second gauge 42 is configured to measure thepressure differential in the interior of the opening 26 of the box 50.

In an alternative embodiment, a box may include exactly one gauge. Inanother alternative embodiment, a box may include more than two gauges.

As best seen in FIG. 1 and as a non-limiting example, the box 50 mayalso include a stand 44 positioned inside the opening 26. In anembodiment, the stand 44 is connected to the interior of the rear wall.The stand 44 may be positioned on other portions of the box 50 in otherembodiments. The stand 44 is configured to receive and/or support theitem 12 within the box 50. As a result, the stand 44 helps the item 12be retained and displayed in a desired position within the interior ofthe opening 26 of the box 50. The stand 44 may be made from a variety ofsuitable materials, such as gas impermeable plastics, acrylic, glass,aluminum, metal foils, and any other material or combinations ofmaterials that could be hermetically sealed.

In an alternative embodiment, an item 12 may be positioned directlyinside the opening 26 of the box 50 without the use of a stand.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and as a non-limiting example, the box 50may also include a compartment 46 for storing a desiccant, such assilica gel packets, or the like. Desiccants may be used to absorbmoisture from the air by physical adsorption or by chemical reaction,and thus reduce the humidity in the sealed box 50.

It is to be understood that the various embodiments described in thisspecification and as illustrated in the attached drawings are simplyexemplary embodiments illustrating the inventive concepts as defined inthe claims. As a result, it is to be understood that the variousembodiments described and illustrated may be combined to from theinventive concepts defined in the appended claims. It should be notedthat this disclosure can be practiced in other ways than thosespecifically illustrated and described without departing from the spiritor scope of this disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An atmosphere-controlled system for storing anddisplaying an item, the system comprising: a box that includes a housingthat defines an opening; a lid removably attached over the opening onthe box, where the lid includes a seal; a vacuum valve configured todirect the flow of oxygen from the interior of the opening of the box;and a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the interior of theopening in the box by way of the vacuum valve, wherein the vacuum pumpis configured to remove oxygen from the interior of the opening of thebox.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump is situatedin-line with the opening of the box.
 3. The system of claim 1, whereinvacuum pump creates a partial vacuum in the box to increase the sealingproperties of the seal.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein a humiditymeter is situated in the box to measure the humidity within the box. 5.The system of claim 4, wherein the humidity meter is in electricalcommunication with the vacuum pump to control the humidity within thebox.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein a vacuum meter is situated ispositioned between the vacuum valve and a wall fitting of the box. 7.The system of claim 6, wherein the vacuum meter measures the pressuredifferential in the interior of the opening of the box.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the interior of the box includes a compartment forholding a desiccant to absorb humidity in the interior of the box.